Birmingham mum's safety fears after car stripped twice

Faizah Azeem said her baby son was asleep at home while the theft took place outside just after midnight, on Sunday

A mum whose car was stripped of parts twice in a month while she parked outside her home, says it has left her fearing for her family's safety.

Faizah Azeem's Toyota Aygo was first targeted on 19 March in Moseley, Birmingham, and then again on Sunday.

Ms Azeem, 32, said police were not doing enough to inform her about "car cannibalism".

West Midlands Police said it carried out inquiries but closed the March case due to no CCTV or suspect identified.

"I am tired and terrified all the time, I feel like I'm paranoid," Ms Azeem said.

She said she felt let down by the force as it did not tell her car stripping was happening around the city, especially because smaller models like hers are seen by thieves as easy to get into.

"Had the police informed me that this is an ongoing issue with cars like mine, I would have taken measures to secure it, or sell it," Ms Azeem said.

Cars like Ms Azeem's Aygo can have their parts stripped out in a matter of minutes

Since it happened, she said she has found car parts matching multiple Toyota Aygo's online, further confirming her fears.

A police spokesperson confirmed the force received reports on 19 March and 14 April of damage to a vehicle in the Moseley area of Birmingham.

"We've carried out initial enquiries, but at this stage no suspect or CCTV images have been identified, and there are currently no active lines of investigation," they said.

Baby on board sign

The force added the victim was contacted via text after the 19 March and officers were now making further arrangements to take a statement about the latest incident.

Ms Azeem said her car was repaired after the first incident and she got it back on 6 April. A week later it was targeted again.

While her eight month old baby slept, Ms Azeem could hear thieves outside just after midnight on Sunday targeting the car again, which she said had a "Baby on Board" sign.

"I was even terrified to just make them aware that I was watching them by just twitching the curtain," she explained.

"At the end of the day it's a car, our lives are more important, but I do feel like our lives were in danger."

What is car cannibalism?

The inside of Ms Azeem's car was also stripped out in the latest incident, on Sunday

• Car bumpers, grilles, lights and bonnets are removed from cars within minutes

• Both organised gangs and opportunistic thieves are believed to be behind the thefts, West Midlands Police said

• Between September 2022 and March 2023, 19,830 thefts from a motor vehicle were reported to the force - which includes car stripping and registration plates being stolen

The issue of car stripping remains in the city, with Birmingham City Football fans telling the BBC their cars were targeted this month outside St Andrew's, which police say they are investigating.

"I can't afford to buy a new car and I highly doubt I'll be able to afford insurance because of these two incidents, as I've had to claim it through them," Ms Azeem said

"Financially and mentally, I have been impacted".

Ms Azeem says she wishes the police had informed her more after the first incident

The force added they regularly carry out warrants at car chop-shops and have closed down more than 100 in the last year.

"We know the huge inconvenience of vehicle crime on your livelihoods, and personal lives, which is why we're determined to take this action," the spokesperson said.

"With the support of the public we can continue to tackle car crime and shut down these chop shops, which act as a market for car thieves."